Device for proving globe-valves



(No Model.)

F. LUNKENHEIMER.

DEVICE FOR PROVING GLOBE VALVES.

No. 277,756. Patented May 15,1883.

1765; lz zvenzar UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FREDERICK LUNKENHEIMER, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO.

DEVICE FOR PROVING GLOBE-VALVES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 277,756, dated May 15, 1883.

Application filed February EM, 1883. (No model.)

allel; anditconsists, essentially, ofaquick-acting vise (as astephens vise or a Parker vise, although an ordinary parallel-jaw vise may be used, but it is objectionable on account of the slowness ofaction) the jaws of which are furnished with circular disks of a diameter of face somewhat greater than the screw end of .the largest valve to be proved, which disks areprovided with elastic surfaces-as rubberupon their inner faces, between which elastic surfaces the valve to be proved is gripped by thejaws of the vise in the usual manner. The stems or spindles of the disks, by means of which they are attached to the vise-jaws, are drilled axially and are provided at their outer ends with screw-threads, by means ol" which and an ordinary pipe-coupling flexible tubes are attached thereto,.i'or the purpose of pro- (1 ucin g a pressure or vacuum upon either side of the valve to prove its tightness, all of which will be fully explained hereinafter.

In the accompanying drawing, which represents a quick-acting vise with portions of the jaws cut away to show the construction of my invention, A is an ordinary parallel jaw bench, of what is known as the Stephens pattern, with jaws A A and grippiuglever A, by means of which the jaws are forced together to grip a piece of work.

B B are circular disks, provided upon the front or inner sides with rubber or leather faces I) I), and upon the back sides with hollow cylindrical stems 11 b Holes a a, drilled horizontally through the vise-jaws B B, receive the stems b b and permit of a limited lateral motionto said stems, whereby valves the screw ends of which are not strictly parallel are gripped as securely as those with true parallel faces.

0 G are flexible tubes,,attached at their inner ends by means of the screw joints 0 c to the tubular stems I) b, and provided at their outer ends with mouth-pieces 0 c.

D is an ordinary globe-valve, shown in the apparatus ready for proving. r

The tubularstems are really continuous from the mouth-pieces c and c to the plug or disk of the valve D.

The action of the device is as follows: The jaws B B of the vise being drawn apart far enough to receive the valve 1), the valve is ap proximately centered and gripped between the jaws, the elastic surfaces 1) I) forming airtight joints with the screw ends d d of the valve. The operator then takes the tubes 0 C, and, by blowing or sucking in them alternately, determines the tightness of the valve. The same result may be had by using a forcepump in connectionwith the pipes U C.

Heretofore valves were proven by screwing them onto a steam-pipe and applying steampressure; but experience has shown that small leaks cannot be detected in this manner, while the slightest leak will be manifest by an airpg ssure or by a par ti l vacuum.

Stop-cocks maybe proven' by this device with as'great facility as valves, and by adapting the inner surfaces oi the disks B to cor respond, other fittings than valves and cooks may be proven in the same manner.

it is obvious that the vise A may be discarded and a special frame with adjustable jaws or other suitable gri jiping apparatus be substituted without departing from the principle of my inventioi'i, the essential requisites of which are the elastic-surfaced. disks B B and the flexible tubes 0 l',and that stift'tubes might be employed instead of those shown; but such would not be as convenient as the llexiblc tubes.

IIavingdescribed my in vcntion, what lcl aim lS-- 1. A device for proving globe-valves, combining in its structure two jaws, B B,i'orgrip ping and holding the valve between them, and tubes 0 0, extending through thejaws respectively and serving to force air into or exhaust it from opposite ends of the valve, substantially as described.

2. In a device for proving globe-valves, the In testimony whereof I have signed-myname 1o combination of two jaws, B B, each having to the foregoing specification in the presence an elastic surface, 1), between which the valve of two subscribing witnesses.

' to be proved is gripped with a tube, 0, having a. mouth-piece, 0 a tubular stem, b ex- FREDERICK LUNKENHEIMER.

tending through one of the grippingjaws, and a joint, 0, connecting the stem and tube, where- Witnesses: by air can be forced into and exhausted from J OHN WV. HILL,

the valve, substantially as described. JOSEPH XV. SIMS. 

